Observations focused on the problems of an underdeveloped country, Venezuela, with some serendipity about the world (orchids, techs, science, investments, politics) at large. A famous Venezuelan, Juan Pablo Perez Alfonzo, referred to oil as the devil's excrement. For countries, easy wealth appears indeed to be the sure path to failure. Venezuela might be a clear example of that.

Archive for July 8th, 2003

In another curious judicial decision, the Electoral Hall of the Supreme Court chose, among the dozens of suits against the results of the 2000 elections, to say that the election of an opposition Deputy was illegal and that a pro-Government candiadte had actually own the seat. Interesting how this happens at a time when Chavez’ MVR control of the National Assembly was flimsy at best, while none of the other cases has been ruled on for more than four years.

A civil Court ordered the intelligence police (??) to capture reporter Ibeyise Pacheco one of the leading critics in the media of the Chavez administration. What makes the order strange, to say the least, is that this is a result of a private accusation by a retired officer, which according to the reporter had exceeded the statute of limitations. Pacheco said she will not run away but fears what the ulterior motives of the action are. It does indeed seem fishy that in a country where no suit against anybody progresses, a civil suit agaisnt a reporter known for her anti-Chavez position does and that a private accusation like that leads to an order to the intelligence police against a reporter. To me, this is simply another way of intimidating, sometimes it is a bomb, sometimes it is an attack, other is a “psuedolegal” order.

A civil Court ordered the intelligence police (??) to capture reporter Ibeyise Pacheco one of the leading critics in the media of the Chavez administration. What makes the order strange, to say the least, is that this is a result of a private accusation by a retired officer, which according to the reporter had exceeded the statute of limitations. Pacheco said she will not run away but fears what the ulterior motives of the action are. It does indeed seem fishy that in a country where no suit against anybody progresses, a civil suit agaisnt a reporter known for her anti-Chavez position does and that a private accusation like that leads to an order to the intelligence police against a reporter. To me, this is simply another way of intimidating, sometimes it is a bomb, sometimes it is an attack, other is a “psuedolegal” order.